Week 51: James, Day 3

READ
James 2:14 – 3:18
Psalm 103

REFLECT 

“Genuine” Ingredients
 Very early in the formative years of the Christian community, there emerged a tension that still exists among those who profess Jesus as Lord. That struggle is between the primacy of “faith,” and the performance of “works.” For James, the issue arose among his Jewish converts to Christ, whose life-long adherence to the Law of Moses was so deeply engrained that all the Ceremonial Laws demanded strict observance. For Paul, whose missionary ministry was largely among Gentiles, those Ceremonial Laws made no demand for observance by non-Jewish converts to Christ.
 What’s a Jerusalem church leader to do?, especially when rumor had it that Paul was telling his converts to “shine off” all that Jewish ritual stuff, especially circumcision. What James had to do was build a bridge between the two factions, and center on the basic and essential commitment to Jesus, as Lord and Savior. In the second half of Chapter 2, James welds the seam between faith and works by pointing out – with illustrations – that when the mouth professes faith, there must be demonstrations of how that faith impacts the way we live, the manner in which we deal with the people in our lives, and the acts of mercy that reflect the Spirit of our Lord. Under the leadership of James, the first Jerusalem Council determined that Gentiles were liberated from observance of most Jewish Ceremonial Law, and were fully admitted to the Christian community (Acts 15).
  We must remember that there is an ethical dimension to our Christian life. While the Ceremonial Law of Moses is not part of our equation, the Moral Law has not been superseded. “By their fruits you will know them.” Faith and works are not opposites; rather, they are inseparable parts of the whole package of Christian living. We are saved “for” works of righteousness, not “by” them.
 There is a natural flow from James’ discussion about faith and works, to consideration of the human capacity to speak. The tongue articulates thought. Teachers are an example of the awesome responsibility of speech. What we say must be true, genuine, important.
What we say can either bless or curse. “How” we convey our thoughts can determine the emotional content that prompts a response. No major undertaking can take place without first an exchange of words. There are “hot” words, and “comfort” words. There are slips of the tongue that can damage reputations, emotions, relationships.
 So . . . seek genuine wisdom “which comes from above,” (3:17) that produces pure communication, peace, gentleness, reason, mercy, good fruits, steady, and straight talk.
Healthy speaking habits flow out of the imparted wisdom from the Holy Spirit, impact in immeasurable ways our interpersonal relationships, and contribute to the unity of the body of Christ gathered in communities of faith – the church. We dare not ruin God’s day by stirring up the dust of wagging tongues and jealous, spiteful feelings within the multiple interfaces that exist in and through the church. “Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others” (3:15 TM).

RESPOND
Between the challenge of aligning our professed faith with our life patterns of behavior in work and relationships, and the disciplining of our speech with Godly wisdom, there is a lot of work to be done on a daily basis. During this Advent Season, when our focus is on the greatest gift – Jesus – consider bringing into closer alignment your profession of faith and your expressions of the Royal Law.

PRAY
Gracious God, you have already given so much to the world, and to me. Grant me the sensitivity and the resolve to faithfully exhibit what it means to be Christ’s disciple, remembering that “God’s love is ever and always, eternally present to all who fear him” (Psalm 103:17 TM).

- D.E.E.